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Bengaluru feels the soaring temperature in February

Summer seems to have caught Bengaluru earlier than expected as the temperature touched 31 degrees Celsius in the city yesterday and it is likely to remain more or less hot for the next few days

Bengaluru: The city streets will soon see people sporting umbrellas starting February. Summer seems to have come early as the temperature in the city seem to be seeing an upward climb to Celsius degrees of above 30. According to data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the city recorded a maximum temperature of 31.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, compared to Tuesday’s maximum temperature of 30 degree Celsius.

According to the IMD, the temperature will remain around 31 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature that was below 14 degrees Celsius a few days ago has moved up to 18 degrees Celsius and will likely remain the same.

The trend of summer in the city usually starts from the end of February or the beginning of March and peaks during April and May. However, the effects of global warming, the increase in population and traffic and the loss of green cover has resulted in changing weather pattern in Bengaluru which was once known for its pleasant weather round the year.

"The summer usually begins in March where the maximum temperature would hover around 32 degree Celsius. However, in recent years, summer-like symptoms have begun to show itself in February," said Srinivas Reddy, director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.

Noted environmentalist Dr Yellappa Reddy attributes this change in Bengaluru's weather pattern to the destruction of the ecosystem and warned that the city temperature this summer might touch a record 40 degrees Celsius during its peak.

"The trees are cut mercilessly; percolation tanks have encroached lakes and hillocks that use to trap rain water have been vanishing and hence the change. Even in March, Bengaluru weather would saturate at maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius a few decades ago," said Reddy.